2025 Wama Art Prize
Medium / category: works created on or with paper
Requirements: Entries must be original works created on or with paper as the primary medium (2D or 3D). Works must have been completed in 2024 or 2025.
Eligibility: The Prize is open to artists primarily residing in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are strongly encouraged to apply.
Associated institutions: Wama Foundation
Exhibition dates: 28 November 2025 – 9 March 2026.
Wama’s National Centre for Environmental Art
Located at 4000 Ararat-Halls Gap Road, Halls Gap VIC
Now in its third edition, Wama’s biennial art prize has established itself as Australia’s leading award dedicated to environmental art, recognising artists deeply engaged with the natural world. The Wama Art Prize is offering both emerging and established artists the opportunity to be showcased in a world-class gallery, the National Centre for Environmental Art, dedicated to the connection of art and nature.
Awards
Major Acquisitive Award: $15,000 (acquisitive)
Three Awards of Excellence: $2,500 each (non-acquisitive)
People’s Choice Award: $2,500 (non-acquisitive)
Judges
Dr Vicki Couzens, artist and Keerray Woorroong Gunditjmara women
Couzens is a Keeray Woorroong Gunditjmara woman, a prominent multi-media artist and possum-skin-cloak maker. Her preferred description of her practice is ‘creative cultural expression’, rather than artist, as her passion is the reclamation, regeneration and revitalization of cultural knowledge and practices.
Anne Virgo OAM, CEO & Artistic Director, Australian Print Workshop
Virgo has been the CEO and Artistic Director of Australian Print Workshop, located in Melbourne for the past 25 years. With an extensive background in the Arts, Anne has held key leadership positions in the non-profit arts sector and has been Director of several visual arts and artist-led organisations.
Suzanne Davies, Contemporary Art Director & Curator
Davies has an expansive career as an Art Director and Curator holding the position of Art Director and Chief Curator at RMIT Gallery for over 22 years up until 2018.Suzanne is an active member in the Australian Art Industry.
Dr Jacqueline Healy, Wama Foundation Board Director
Dr Jacqueline Healy has extensive experience in the arts and museum sectors. She is Director, Museums, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.
Previous Winners And Finalists
2023 Award of Excellence winner, Johanna Weiss, Tethered
2023 Acquisitive Award winner, Martin King, Tree of life, journey of lost souls in twenty volumes No. 2, 2023
2023 Award of Excellence winner, Cumpston Zena, ngarta kiira 1, 2023
For Artists
For terms and conditions, visit: https://www.wamafoundation.com.au/experience/wama-art-prize-2025
Image: 2023 Wama Art Prize Acquisitive Prize winner, Martin King, tree of life, diary of lost souls in twenty volumes No2, 2023
Information up to date from September 2025













